Internal combustion engine



July 5, 1932. L. M. WOOLSON I INTERNAL COMBUSTION ENGINE 2 Sheets-Sheet l H HM Filed July 28, 1928 gwuentoz .LJUNEL ff. NUULE'UN.

July 1 L. M. WOOLSON 1,366,281

INTERNAL COMBUSTION ENGINE Filed July 28, 1928 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 LJUNEL N. NUUL SUN.

. abl'oinaq gave/nice Patented July 5, 1932 srArEs- PATENT OFFICE LIONEL M. WOOLSON, F DETROIT, MICHIGAN, ASSIGNOR T0 PACKAIIEED MOTOR COMPANY, 012 DETROIT, MICHIGAN, A CORPORATION OF MICHIGAN INTERNAL COMBUSTION ENGINE Application filed July 2a, 1928. Serial No. 295,938.

This invention relates to internal combus 'tion engines.

One of the objects of the present invention is to provide an internal combustion engine of the compression-ignition or solid fuel injection type in which air enters the cylinder and exhaust gases are expelled therefrom through the same passage open to the atmosphere, andin which means are provided for removing the exhaust gases from the region about the open end of the passage.

Another object of the invention is to provide means, in an internal combustion engine of the overhead valve type, for reducing the height or the overall dimension of the engine in the direction of the axis of a cylinder thereof.

- springs.

7 Another object of the invention is to pro vide a valve for aninternal combustion engine in which the valve operating means engages the valve in the zone of the valve closing Another object of the invention is to pro: vide a valve for an internal combustion engine in which the valve operating means engages the valves stem intermediate its ends.

Another object is to provide a valve for an internal combustion engine in which the valve operating means projects into. a slot in the valve stem.

Other objects of the invention will appear from the following description taken in con: nection with the drawings forming a part of this specification, in which:

Fig. '1 is a side elevation of part of an internal combustion. engine embodying the present invention;

' Fig. 2 is a longitudinal sectional view of the upper'part of oneof the cylinders of the,

engine, the section being taken throiigh the valve andvalve operating means generally a nine-cylinder radial compression-- ignition or solid fuel injection engine adapted for aircraft use embodying the present informed cylinders represented generally at 12.

The cylinders are secured to the crank case by two continuous bands 13 extending around the crank case and engaging flanges provided at the lower ends of the cylinders, this securing means forming the subject matter of my co-pending application, Serial No. 287,963, filed June 25, 1928. Each cylinder of the engine comprises a cylindrical casting 14., preferably of steel, and closed at one end to form a cylinder head 15 having a single port 16, preferably positioned eccentrically with respect to the axis of the cylinder, as shown. The cylinder wall is preferably of increasing thickness toward the head andthe crank case ends thereof, 'as shown, to withstand thecuring means, and spaced dowels 23. on cylinder head 15 cooperate with suitable apertures in the auxiliary cylinder head to properly 10 cate or position the latter on the cylinder head 15. Auxiliary cylinder head 21 is provided with a cylindrical valve stem guide 24 having an aperture 25, and an apertured'bush ing 26 is pressed into the guidel with its aperture registering with the a erture in the valve stem guide.

The base 0 the cylinder head 21 is formed with a lateral; extension 9, and

with anendless flange 8 which projects from the periphery of the extension and from a portion of the upper surface of the cylinder head. The space bounded by the flange 8 forms a housing for the upper end of the valve and its guiding means and for th valve actuating mechanism. 1

Cylinder port 16 is controlled by a valve 27 adapted to rest on a seat 28 when in closed position, the seat 28 preferably being formed in an annulus 29 of suitably hard material pressed into a recess in the cylinder head 15.

' Valve 27 has a stem 30 adapted to be guided by the guide 24 and preferably formed integrally with the valve, the stem being formed with a solid central portion 31 and hollow at both ends, as shown, the open end -of the stem at the valve'preferably being closed' by a plug 32 or other suitable means. The solid central portion 31 of the valve stem is apertured to provide a slot 33 adapted, when the stem is mounted in its guide, to register with the apertures in the valve stem guide and g1 its bushing. A wear resisting member 34 of suitably hard material is mounted in the solid central portion 31 of the valve stem at the end of the slot 33 nearer the valve. The

valve 27 is adapted to be resiliently pressed to closed position,-in-the form shown, by a series of coil springs 35 spaced about the valve stem guide. The springs 35 are mounted on spaced rod-like springguides 36, suitably secured at one end to a collar 37, adapted to rest on the auxiliary cylinder head 21. The springs 35 are compressed between the collar 37 and a substantially cup-shaped valve spring seat 38 secured to 'the end of the valve stem 30 by means of a split frustoconical collar 39 adapted to engage spaced annular projections 40 formed on the valve stem.

The valve is adapted to be opened against the resistance of springs 35 by means of a rocker arm 41 pivotally mounted intermediate its ends on a shaft 42, carried in suitable bosses 43 on auxiliary cylinder head 21. As shown, the valve operating end 44 of the rocker arm extends between two of the springs 35, through the slots in the valve stem ide and its bushing and into the slot 33 1n the valve stem and engages the wear resisting member 34. The rocker arm is actuated by a push rod 45 engaging the end thereof opposite the valve operating end 44, the push rod being actuated by a suitable cam, not shown, driven from the crank shaft of the engine. In the form shown, the push rod is enclosed in a cylindrical housing 46 secured at one end to the auxiliary cylinder head 21 'As shown, the passage has a restricted por tion 49 preferably adjacent its outer end, and

is of substantially elliptical form forthe' only greater part of its length inwardly from the outer open end. The auxiliary cylinder head 21 is provided with a series of parallel cooling fins'50 to facilitate the radiation of heat from the cylinder head. A fuel pump represented generally at 51, is secured to the cylindrical casting 14 of each cylinder 12 with its outlet adjacent the upper end of the cylinder, as shown, and is adapted to be actuated by a suitable cam, not shown, driven frpm the crank shaft of the engine for forcing a predetermined quantity of solid or liquid fuel into the combustion chamber at the proper t me during the compression strokeof the enne. The engine shown is adapted to operate on'the four-stroke cycle and from the foregoing descriptiomits operation will be clear.

Upon the suction stroke of the piston of each cylinder, valve 27 will be open and air will be drawn into the cylinder through the passage 48 and port 16. Due to the eccentric location of the passa e and port with respect to the axis of the cy inder, together with the restricted or contracted portion 49 of passage 48, the air drawn into the cylinder on the suction stroke will enter the cylinder at relatively high velocity and will move rapidly in substantially circular paths in the cylinder. At or near the end of the suction or intake stroke, the valve 27 will be closed and the air inth cylinder is compressed on the succeeding or compression stroke of the piston. At the proper time during this compression stroke, a predetermined quantity of fuel in solid or liquid form is injected into the cylinder by the pump 51 and mixes with the rapidly moving air therein. The heat produced during compression of this combustible mixture ignites the mixture, and upon expansion thereof the piston 18 is impelled outwardly of the cylinder on its power stroke. At or near the end of the power stroke of the piston, the valve 27 is opened and the burned or exhaust gases will be forced from the cylinder through theport 16 and passage 48 into the atmosphere upon the exhaust stroke of the piston.

During operation of theengine, the propeller 20 causes a stream of air to flow over and past the engine, the direction of flow of this stream of air being substantially y parallel to the axis of the crank shaft of the engine and across the open ends of the passages 48 of each cylinder, substantially normal to the axis of each passage, so that the exhaust gases expelled from each cylinder on the exhaust stroke will be quickly removed from, the region or area about the open end of the passage. Thus, during operation of i the engine, it will beapparent that fresh air or air undiluted by exhaust gases will be drawn into each cylinder through the same passage 48 and port 16 throughwhich the exhaust gases are expelled from the cylinder.

In an en e emplo the valve and valve actuat mechan iiii of the present invention,it wi readily be apparent" that the over-all dimension ofthe engine in the direc'tion of the axis of a cylinder of the engine will be less than the corresponding dimension in an overhead valve engine 1n which the valve actuating. mechanism engages the end of the valve stems This arrangement is particularly advantageous in radial engines adapted for aircraft use where the overall diameter. of the engine is an important factor. I

While the invention has been illustrated and described as embodied in a radial engine of the compression-ignition or solid fuel injection type, adapted for aircraft use, it will be understood that the invention is susceptible of use in other types of internal combustion engines. It will further be understood that for stationary operation, a suitable pump or blower may be used, instead of the propeller shown, for removing the exhaust gases from the region about the open end of the cylinder passages.

The form of the invention herein shownand described'is to be considered a preferred ters Patent is:

form only and it will be understood that the invention'is not to be limited except by the scope of the appended claims.

Having thus described the inventlon, what is claimed and desired to be securedby Let,-

1. In an internal combustion engine, in

I combination, a valve, a stem for the valve having a laterally extending aperture therethrough, resilient means encircling the stem in a, plane with 'the aperture for closing the valve, and means projecting into the aperture for opening the valve.

2. In an internal combustion engine, in

,ing hollow end portions and a transversely apertured portion intermediate the hollow .end portio 9. In an internal combustion engine, a cylinder head having an ahg'ularly disposed passage therethrough, an axially disposed valve for closing the interior end of the passage, a

valve stem guide projecting from the head,.

a bearing for the valve stem carried by the guide, a plurality of coil springs arranged circularly around the guide and bearing against the cylinder head at one end, a seat secured to the valve stem beyond/the guide and the bearing, said springs engaging said seat, a housing inclosing the springs, said guide and bearing having aligned slots therein, and a rocker lever extending through the slots and engaging an intermediate portion of the valve stem. 1

In testimony whereof I alnx my signature.

LIONEL M. WOOLSON.

combination, a valve, astem for the valve, a

spring for closing the valve, and means for opening the valve having engagement with the valvestem in the zone of the spring.

3. In an internal combustion engine, in

1 combination a valve, a stem for the valve, a,

plurality of springs for closing the valve, and

for closing the valve, and means exten means for opening the valve having engagement with the valve stem in the zone, of the sprin s 4. 11 an internal combustion engine, in combination, a valve, a plurality of SPIIiIDgS g between two of the springs for opening the valve.

5; Inan internal combustion engine, in combination, ,a valve, a stem for the valve having an aperture, a plurality of, coiled springs for closing the valve, and a rocker arm extending between two of the springs and into the valve stem aperture.

6. A valve for internal combustion ena transversely extending aperture 

